An open letter to my understanding partner,

After spending 5 years together it is surreal to venture back into the world as a singleton. So many people come out of relationships with bitterness and resentment but we have always been fortunate in that we’ve understood one another and have never wanted to stifle each other.

It is surreal not having you as a direct part of my life (for now), especially after being together from such an early age. But if anything the distance makes me look back more fondly of our time together and it is a period of my life that I won’t forget or regret.

It is understandable how people become so reliant on one another and it reached a point in my life where I needed to branch out and experience things on my own. It might sound silly but I do believe that you need to know yourself truly before you can completely give yourself to someone else.

For a long time I thought that I was the rock of our relationship. A levelheaded and always right partner who could be relied upon and as a result I began to dismiss your thoughts and opinions towards things. I guess that’s a roundabout way of saying I began to take you for granted and that is a dangerous road to be on, especially after baring witness to how my father did the same thing to my mother.

I want you to know that this isn’t so much a breakup to me as I time for me to find myself (I know it sounds corny) and I don’t want to think it is in anyway your fault, rather it is that I have some issues to resolve with myself before I dedicate the rest of my life to someone and try to be the best partner I can be.

Relationships are never all smooth sailing and I know it might be hard to understand my choice right now. The song lyrics ‘if you love somebody set them free’ keep springing to mind and I’m appreciative that you were able to do this for me and if anything it has solidified the fact that I will return to you one day as a better man.

Of course who knows what the future holds…you might find someone else whilst I’m away and I might forever regret my decision to leave. If so I will dedicate myself to winning you back.

I thank you for giving me the time and space I need and I will be forever indebted to you.